Truss



Nov. 13, 1945. c. G. HILDRETH TRUSS Filed April 9, 1943 INVENTOB Patented Nov. 13, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRUSS Clarence G. Hildreth, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application April 9, 1943, Serial No. 482,380

2 Claims.

My invention relates to trusses for use with ruptures in the groin, and which will hold any reducible inguinal, femoral or scrotal hernia in the groin.

One object of my invention is to provide a truss of such form that the various supporting and holding elements thereof will automatically adapt themselves to the various movements and positions of the wearer, with minimum danger of slipping, and which will freely permit of all body movements and positions, as when working, walking, sitting or sleeping.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for so positioning and supporting the groin-engaging pads that the ruptures will be reduced and often cured.

Another object of the invention is to provide a truss structure of such flexibility and with the pads maintained at such an angle that an even pressur is produced and maintained upwardly, to prevent the internal pressure from pushing the abdomen contents through the femoral opening in the groin, in either men or women, thus preventing strangulation which frequently occurs if a pad slips.

Still another object is to provide a truss that is not so bulky as to substantially restrict body movements or interfere with the proper fit of clothing.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a truss embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a face view of a portion of the structure of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale and Fig. 3 is a view taken on the line III-III of Fig. 2.

The structure comprises a belt or waist band 5 having straps 6 at the front thereof, and crotch straps I that will extend between the legs of the wearer. The belt and the straps may suitably be of an elastic webbing and serve to hold a base plate 8 in position at the front of the wearers body.

A plate 9 has pivoted connection by a stud ID to the front of the base plate 8, a washer l I being interposed between the two plates. may suitably be of a non-tarnishable metal, the plate 8 being of spring metal, so that it will yield with the changes in position of the wearers body. The front lower ends of the straps 6 have metal hooks l2 which engage with headed studs l3, that are carried by the plate 9, for connecting the straps to the plate. A pair of slots l5 are formed in the plate 8 and screws [8 extend through these slots to hold pads ll in place, the screws having threaded connection with the pads. The slots l5 permit of adjustment of the pads on the plate 8 to fit persons of various sizes.

Guide clips l8 are riveted or welded to the plate 8 and these clips hold the straps 6 against upwarddisplacement and serve as guides therefor. The straps B have sliding movement in the clips I8, particularly when the plate 9 is caused to swing on its pivot Ill through body movements of the wearer. The pads Il may be of hard rubber or have a suitable tapped base covered with cloth, leather, or other suitable material.

The plate 8 has rearwardly bent portions 20, that carry studs 2! for connection to metal hooks 22 which are carried by the straps 1.

It will be understood that the plate 8 and the pads I! will be supported in an inclined position to the front of and partly below the abdomen, in the usual manner. However, in the present instance the clips l8 will retain the front ends of the belt in proper alignment and changes of posture will permit the plate 9 to swivel on the plate 8 and the straps 6 to slide slightly in the clips l8, thus reducing the tendency of the pads to become misplaced. Furthermore the plate 8 will yieldably retain the pads in the proper position on the wearers body and will flex and recoil with the movements of the wearer, thus permitting free body movements and automatically maintaining the pads in their proper positions. The bent-back portions 20 of the plate 8 not only permit the straps l to be connected thereto at setback positions but their angularity is such as to provide for upwardly directed holding force on the plate 8 and the pads carried thereby, by

- the straps l.

The plates I claim as my invention:

1. A truss for the human body comprising a base plate, means for connecting hernia pads to the plate, in position to engage the body, a face plate pivotally connected to the base plate at a point adjacent to the vertical mid lines of said plates, a belt having straps connected to the face plate at horizontally-spaced points located at opposite sides of the pivotal connection, and crotch straps connected to the lower edge of the base plate and to the rear portion of the belt.

2. A truss for the human body comprising a base plate, means for connecting hernia pads to the plate, in position to engage the body, a face plate pivotally connected to the base plate at a point adjacent to the middle portions of said plates, a belt having its ends connected to the face plate, below the said pivotal connection, and a crotch strap connected to the lower edge of the base plate and to the rear portion of the belt.

CLARENCE G. HILDRETH. 

